ruining the edge by stropping - help

[carpenocte]

Hey guys, been awhile since i posted. I have been loving shaving with my straight razor and was pretty confident that i had gotten pretty decent at stropping, until today. I went in to shower and shave, set up all my stuff, showered and then stropped my razor. I then proceeded to lather up, grabbed my razor and.......felt like i was shaving with an index card. no "bite" with the razor at all and hardly any hair on the blade after one pass. I tried re-stropping the razor with no improvement. I have stropped my razor about 10-15 times after each shave to "clean" the edge of residue then strop about 20 times before each shave. Until today it actually felt like the razor was getting sharper so i was pretty happy that my technique was coming along nicely. Now im just not sure. Is it possible to take the edge off of a razor that much with just one poor stropping session? Is it possible to bring it back to shave ready just by stropping the hell out of it (once i get over the fact i messed it up in the first place). If it wasn't the stropping what could have happened? Any help is always appreciated.

Thanks in advance

PS: I posted this in the general forum and was informed i may have better luck asking in the straight razor forum, so i apologize for the double post. Should probably look a little harder next time

 

[paco664]

i think you may have rolled the edge...... if you have a touch up hone its time for a touchup......

if you would like pm me for my addy and send it to me.... i will hone it up and send it back....

remember when your stropping ... slow and easy does the trick....

 

[carpenocte]

I was afraid of that. Poor razor is only a few months old too, lol. I guess there's no way to get the edge back by re-stropping huh. ah well i will consider the offer, thanks.

 

[Greybeard]

How many shaves with the razor since it's been sharpened/touched up on a hone?
Stropping by itself will only keep a razor going so long, although it's unusual for it to go dull all at once.

 

[carpenocte]

Hmmmm...good question. Maybe 2 dozen shaves, twice a week for 2-3 months. This is my first razor and it is only a few months old. I thought it was really strange too that it was just that dull when i went to shave. I keep thinking and i cant pinpoint anything i did different this time stropping than any of the other times. my heart kind of sank after that first pass lol, was just so disappointed as i truly look forward to shaving now.

 

[Doc226]

Paco puts a great edge on razors, of course this means it is also time for a second razor.

 

[carpenocte]

Yeah i'm kind of realizing it is time for a second razor. I had to shave with *gasp* one of those cartridge style razors when i realized i wouldn't be able to shave with my straight. Needless to say i wasn't a happy camper.

 

[Greybeard]

I don't think there's anything wrong with your stropping technique. 2 dozen would be a reasonable number of shaves to get from your blade before the razor gets dull.
You should have noticed a little more pulling and tugging than normal with the last couple of shaves though.
Take Paco up on his very generous offer to hone your razor.

For the future you could look at buying a coticule if you want to learn to hone your own razors. Or a CrOx pasted balsa wood strop to touch up your razor after every 12 - 18 shaves. That would keep you going for a while.

 

[carpenocte]

would paste on the canvas side of the strop be suitable for that as well? or does it have to be a balsa strop? I have never considered it so this im totally new at this part.

Thanks everyone for all the help and quick responses, it is very much appreciated.

 

[Greybeard]

would paste on the canvas side of the strop be suitable for that as well? or does it have to be a balsa strop? I have never considered it so this im totally new at this part.

Thanks everyone for all the help and quick responses, it is very much appreciated.

Yep. CrOx paste on canvas would work. It will round the bevel a little more than a balsa wood strop because of the give/flex in the hanging strop. It would not last quite as long between honings, but only a slight difference.

 

[carpenocte]

Excellent, thanks again. One last question....when you say balsa strop are you referring to a paddle strop or is it something different?

 

[Greybeard]

You could use a paddle strop, but I meant something like this.
You could make your own if you have a piece of hardwood, some spray glue, 1/8 inch balsa wood from a hobby/craft shop, 400 grit sandpaper to smooth the balsa and some CrOx paste.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Balsa-Straig...548?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c3b4c18c

 

[carpenocte]

Thanks so much. I probably do have some wood lying around here somewhere, sounds like a nice project for me.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[john shea]

I went to Woodcraft and got a 3x24x3/4 hardwood board, Handamerica 12x6 leather, and 3M spray glue. Makes two bench strops cheap. I have several with different pastes for razors and knives. CrOx is good. I like 3, 1, and 0.5 diamond paste.

 

[jred]

+1 on the balsa strop. I have the one from the poor man's kit, I use it every half dozen shaves or so, and it makes a huge difference.

 

[carpenocte]

Looks like im making myself a balsa strop and getting some pastes.

The stroke when doing this is like stropping (spine leads) or honing (edge leads)??

 

[paco664]

spine leads.... if you attempt edge first you will cut into the balsa....

make sure you sand the balsa flat first by laying a sheet of sandpaper on a known flat surface and pass the balsa back and forth lapping it....

then mix the crox powder with a bit of oil.... i use neats foot oil but mineral oil *(baby oil) will work just fine....


WEAR LATEX GLOVES... just a thumbnail sized bit of crox mixed with oil will paint your entire house/dog/kids/car/neighbors wife....

 

[A35335]

.........WEAR LATEX GLOVES... just a thumbnail sized bit of crox mixed with oil will paint your entire house/dog/kids/car/neighbors wife....

Love it!!

 

[carpenocte]

see i'm glad i asked, i would have thought it would have been like honing and went edge first. Just ordered CrO2 paste, not powder and picked up some wood and sheet of balsa. Just cut and glued it. the only thing i have that is flat is the shelf to my entertainment center lol (its glass) so i will use that to lap the balsa tomorrow after it is all dried.

Thanks to everyone, once again. I don't know what i would have done without the excellent information you guys have dispensed.

Paco - if this doesn't pan out i will take you up on your offer to hone my razor. I would rather try this first and if i fail, have a fall back plan, then to get it honed then in another month or so fail and have to hone it again.

 

[Greybeard]

see i'm glad i asked, i would have thought it would have been like honing and went edge first. Just ordered CrO2 paste, not powder and picked up some wood and sheet of balsa. Just cut and glued it. the only thing i have that is flat is the shelf to my entertainment center lol (its glass) so i will use that to lap the balsa tomorrow after it is all dried.

Thanks to everyone, once again. I don't know what i would have done without the excellent information you guys have dispensed.

Paco - if this doesn't pan out i will take you up on your offer to hone my razor. I would rather try this first and if i fail, have a fall back plan, then to get it honed then in another month or so fail and have to hone it again.

Take Paco up on his offer Dan.
CrOx on balsa is for maintenance and edge renewal. You've got to use it before you get to the point you're at now.
It won't properly sharpen an edge from completely dull. Get it honed first and then in the future use the CrOx before your razor dulls to the point of not cutting.